SPINKS GIVES GREAT DISPLAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18985, 3 February 1930, Page 6

SPINKS GIVES GREAT DISPLAY.

EXCITING NIGHT’S SPORT PROVIDED AT SPEEDWAY.

Another excellent night's sport was witnessed at Monica Park on Saturday night. Although there werb no records broken, the racing was of a very high order, and showed that the local riders are improving beyond all recognition. Charlie Spinks, about whom Christchurch has heard such a lot from other centres, made his first appearance, and gave a glimpse of form which promises something very well for patrons next week. Nevertheless, he proved to be in another class when hte was competing against the local riders. He won both his match races against Sticpewich. The public admired the way he took the broadsides. Once he succeeded in getting to the front of the riders he was competing against, he made faultless broadsides and practically won as he liked. The performance hte put up fully justified the reports that have come to Christchurch about his

W. Sticpewich, who has been in Christchurch for the past few weeks, again demonstrated his skill as a rider. In the Australian match against Spinks, he crashed in the first heat when coming out of a broadside, and in the second heat his bicyclte gave trouble for the first lap, and he lost a lot of ground. Owing to Spinks winning the first two heats, it was unnecessary to run a third. However, Spinks made an attempt to lower the track record put up by Sticepwieh last week of lmin 25 l-ssec. He gave an excellent exhibition of broadsiding, but, after he had gone three laps in the fast time of lmin 3 3-ssec, his engine gave trouble, and he had to give up the attempt. Each l&.p took him 21 l-ssec, and, allowing that he had done the fourth lap in the same time, hte would have broken the record by two-fifths of a second.

F. Bennish, who appeared for the first time last week since breaking his leg at the opening meeting, again made an appearance in an attempt to break the four-lap rolling start record of lmin 25 l-ssec. His engine was giving trouble, and in his first attempt he crashed when coming out of a broadside. When hte started up again he had gone only another lap when his machine refused to function.

F. Sharman, who held the Gold Sash up to Saturday night, did not defend it. It was announced that he had retired from the track, and in consequence Ernie Marsh took his place and rode against E. Pyke. Marsh is the most rider in the province, and he demonstrated in no uncertain manner his superiority. He defeated Pyke in two out of the three races. Great things should bte expected of Marsh, as he is afraid of nothing. He will be the visiting riders’ most dangerous opponent in a week or two. D. M'Kenzie is another rider who has improved beyond all recognition. If he can only keep on his mount, he is going to turn out a real "top-notcher.” He gave two thrilling exhibitions, and would have no doubt won, if his mount had not let him down. All the local riders are showing much better form, and the times thtey are putting up show distinct improvement on any previous performances. Most of them are cutting six and seven seconds off their previous times, and very shortly they will be excellent riders on the cinders. The biggest crowd ever seen at thte park was present on Saturday night, there being between eight thousand and nine thousand. Derry's Band gave enjoyable items during the evening. The following are thte results (if not otherwiste stated, the distance of the race was four laps):— OPEN HANDICAP. First heat: E. Pye <Bsec) 1, W. Sticpewich (scr) 2. Time—lmin 41sec. Second heat: D. Shaw (6sec) 1, R. Lovegrove (scr) 2. Time—lmin 50 3-ssec. Third heat: E. Marsh (scr) 1, D. M’Kenzie (4sec) 2. Time—lmin 34sec. Fourth heat: C. Spinks (scr) 1, P. Lunn (Bsec) 2. Time—lmin SOsec. First semi-final: Sticpewich <scr) 1, Shaw (12sec) 2. Time—lmin 34 2-5 Second semi-final: Marsh (4sec) 1, Lunn (9sec) 2. Time—lmin 33sec. Spinks had engine trouble in the semifinal and could not get going. Final. Shaw (12sec) j. Lunn (6sec) 2 Marsh (2stec) 3 Time—lmin 51 3-ssec. This was a poor race. Sticpewich’s machine refused to function properly. Marsh was riding a great race until he came a spill in the third lap. This left Shaw and Lunn to fight out the finish, and in a very slow finish Shaw won. Alter about four or five minutes, Marsh succeeded in getting his machine going again, and rode home for third money. GOLD SASH MATCH RACE. Rolling Start. E- Pyke 1. Marsh was riding well until his engine seized, and he was unable to start it again. HowFykte gave a good exhibition, his time being Imm 32sec. Second heat: E. Marsh 1, E. Pyke 2. Time—lmin 29sec. Marsh assumed the lead for the first two laps, and Pyke, who was riding well, did his best to overtake him, but he failed. Marsh siding l good ’ clean exhibition of broadThird Heat: E. Marsh 1, E. Pyke 2 Time—lmin 27sec. A thrilling race from start to finish. Marsh again went to the front from the start and led Pyke all the way. In the second to last Jap Pyke made a great dash for it, but Marsh held too many guns for him, and he won fairly easily in the excellent time of lmin 27sec. This is the best time put up by a local rider for the track. By the way Marsh was riding when he finished he could have gone another 2sec better, for he was easing up before tne post was reached. SECOND DIVISION. (For B Grade riders.) First heat: R. J. Hore (lsec) 1, N. M. Stow (6sec) 2. Time—lmin 44sec. Second heat: J. K. Craig (6sec) 1, P. Lunn (scr) 2. Time—lmin 45sec. Third heat: D. M’Kenzie (scr) 1, C. Blacklock (4sec) 2. Time—lmin 47 2-ssec. Final: P. Lunn, scr 1 R. J. Hore, 2sec 2 J. K. Craig, 7sec 3 Time—lmin 36sec. M’Kenzie’s cycle gave trouble, and Lunn had an easy win, with Hore riding well second. AUSTRALIAN MATCH RACE. First heat: C. Spir.ks 1. Time—lmin 28sec. W. Sticpewich crashed in the second lap, and Spinks went on to give an excellent exhibition of broadsiding. Second Heat: C. Spinks 1, W. Sticpewich 2. Time—lmin 26 3-sseo. Spinks was always in front, Sticpewich’s bike frequently giving trouble. Spinks gave a very good exhibition, his time being only 1 2-ssec slower than the record. SPEEDWAY SCRATCH RACE. First Heat: E. Pyke 1. Time—lmin 30 2-ssec. C. Spinks did not start owing to engine trouble. M’Kenzie rode brilliantly for two laps, but he then crashed, and this left Pyke to finish alone. Second Heat: W. Sticpewich 1. Carter crashed and Sticpewich was the only rider to finish. Time—lmin 32 2-ssec. Third Heat: E. Marsh 1. Time —lmin 33sec. Final: W. Sticpewich 1 E. Pyke 2 Time—lmin 29sec. Sticpewich showed the field the way around, but Pyke was making a great race of it. Eventually, however, Sticpewich showed superiority, and won comfortably. Marsh crashed.